Choosing Life: Escape from Hell through Repentance

Some people believe Hell doesn’t exist, that there’s nothing else once you die. Some others believe it exists for a certain period and will not be a continuous punishment. They argue that God is a merciful God and doesn’t rejoice over the death of the wicked; therefore, the fiery torment will end once the evildoers are fully consumed. They support this idea with the following verse:

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)

I don’t know you, but whether Hell is eternal or temporary, you will still miss out on everlasting life. I’d rather prepare myself and repent even if, in the end, there’s no such place than not repent and find out on Judgment Day that there’s eternal Hell. God cannot lie; if He says there’s such a place, we should take it at face value. Eternity is a long time to be tormented with ‘undying worms and unquenchable fire’ (Mark 9:48, WMBB). Hell is a place you don’t want to go to. Also, you’d be with Satan, his demons, and all the people cast into the outer darkness, where the eternal lake of fire is. I can’t imagine how noisy it’s going to be in Hell with all the ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 8:12; 13:42; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28). No wonder the Bible says they will have no rest:

They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:11, WMBB)

Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; (Matthew 25:41, WMBB)

“But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

While the wicked will weep, gnash their teeth, and be in pain forever and ever (no rest). God’s people will experience absolute peace and eternal rest:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, WMBB)

‘There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.‘ (Hebrews 4:9, WMBB)

Like a pregnant woman whose contractions increase as her delivery draws near, the “birth pains” of the end of days become more frequent. The Bible prophecy is already unfolding before our eyes, yet some still don’t (or don’t want to) see this reality. This is evident in frequent earthquakes, wars, various calamities, and pestilences like COVID-19! Some question God’s existence because, according to them, why are all these evil things happening if God exists and is good? Why would God allow evil in the world? I won’t go deeper into this now; I will discuss the problem of evil in a future post. Briefly, the existence of evil does not disprove God’s existence and is not His will for the world. However, God created human beings with free will, like you and me, to choose between right and wrong. In a few words, evil exists because of our bad choices. God is allowing evil temporarily because He does not want anyone to perish in Hell. 2 Peter 3:8-9 (WMBB) reads:

8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We’re so preoccupied with our lives; we focus too much on earthly things. When did you last stop to consider where you’re going and what will happen to you after death? Again, many unbelievers maintain that there’s nothing else after death. Some others postpone their reconciliation with God; they believe there’s still plenty of time to repent because they love living in sin, but the truth is that we humans are fragile. No one knows when we’ll die. We’re running out of time. So, believe and accept JESUS as your LORD while you’re alive. Don’t delay your salvation any longer because while you’re reading this post, people might be already in flames in Hades (the abode of the dead before the second coming of Christ, equivalent to Sheol in the Old Testament) (Fernando, Packer and Grudem, 2018). These people wish they could have another chance. Furthermore, they wish someone could warn their families about what lies ahead after death if they do not repent:

27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’ (Luke 16:27-28, WMBB)

Some Christians believe this to be a parable; thus, we should not base our doctrine on it. In other words, we should not think that people who go to Hades after death are already being tormented in flames. However, it is worth highlighting that, unlike other parables, the story of the rich man and Lazarus seems to lack metaphors, which are usually used in Jesus’ parables. Additionally, the biblical passage of the rich man and Lazarus is not labelled in the Bible as a parable, which makes it stand out from the rest of the parables like the ones in Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son or prodigal son; parable of the wedding feast (Luke 14:7-11), parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:12-24), parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19) etc. Therefore, this suggests that the story of the rich man and Lazarus could be an account of an afterlife event. But, again, there’s nothing wrong with being ready, whereas if you’re not prepared, your loss will be eternal. And that’s what God’s Word is for, to prepare us, not to scare people.

Another essential thing to ponder is whether Hell is only for unbelievers. For example,Jesus instructs them to watch out for false teachers in Matthew 7:21-23 (WMBB):

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ 23 Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

Jesus also warned us that only those who do God’s will would enter His Kingdom (Luke 6:46). Furthermore, ‘Jesus is about to spit out of His mouth lukewarm Christians’ (Revelation 3:16). While other religions believe one can earn salvation by doing good works, Christians believe people are saved by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, our faith should bear good works, for ‘faith without works is ‘dead’(James 2:26).

God is being very patient with all of us because He loves us. Still, there will come a point that He will eventually let go of those who rejected Him. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV) says:

They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

I’m not saying these things to judge or scare people. But it’s my duty as a Christian to warn others about Hell, lest I be blood-guilty:

8 When I tell the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you don’t speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at your hand. 9 Nevertheless, if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and he doesn’t turn from his way; he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:8-9, WMBB)

And, of course, I genuinely care where you’ll end up after this life. Some might think I’m being unloving by sharing this, or I’m just a fanatic. But, if there were a sinking ship, and someone told you there was a way out to get on another boat, would you say that person is disrespectful or intolerant? Surely not. This is precisely what all Christians should be doing: telling people there’s a way out and leading them to Jesus, the only true way to life (John 14:6). It’s not only the job of Theologians and Pastors. The Great Commission applies to all Christians (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Peter 3:15; Philemon 1:6).

Sadly, many churches no longer preach the importance of repentance to escape Hell because they are too afraid to offend people or even appear stupid. How I see it, I’d rather look like a fool and offend them now with the truth; they’ll recover from it than them going to Hell because I was ashamed to share it as they won’t recover from it. Proverbs 27:6 (WMBB) says, ‘The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.’ In other words, it’s better to be rebuked by a friend than be kissed by the enemy.

‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.’ (Romans 1:16, ESV)

‘For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’ (Mark 8:38, WMBB)

Yes, churches preach about Jesus, His steadfast love and grace. Still, we must also preach about God’s fair character, especially concerning Judgement Day. Yes, God is a God of love, but He is also a just God. While He’s given us free will to choose between life and death, each choice has eternal consequences.

19 ‘I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love the LORD your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life,’ (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, WMBB)

TO THE PERSON READING THIS, I may not know you, but I care enough for you to tell you to choose life; choose Jesus today, the only way to everlasting life. Don’t keep delaying your salvation. Remember that indecision is a decision.

If you still didn’t accept Jesus, PRAY WITH ME: LORD Jesus, I thank You for paying all of my sins once and for all when You died on the cross. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. I accept Your gift of salvation; thank You for saving me from Hell’s destruction. God, I turn away from my sins; teach me how to live a holy life from now on. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

‘because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ (Romans 10:9, ESV)

If you said that prayer and meant it, you’ve passed from life to death. Now, you’ll need to grow in the LORD, read the Bible daily and ask God to lead you to the right church.

“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24, WMBB)